DAVIDE Santon was due on Tyneside today with Newcastle United hoping to complete his £5million move to St James’ Park.

And the Magpies have also attempted to resurrect their move for Mali international Modibo Maiga.

The Chronicle understands that United officials were looking to tie up two deals today in a bid to beat the transfer deadline, with their dealings going right down to the wire.

Santon and Charlton goalkeeper Rob Elliot were hoping to be Newcastle players by the end of play today.

Santon’s agent Claudio Vigorelli was expected to jet into Newcastle today with Inter Milan and United thought to have agreed a fee with personal terms and a medical to be negotiated.

Santon, pictured, suffered a knee injury two seasons ago and failed to establish himself last term before being farmed out on loan to Cesena. Yet his arrival is thought to come after recommendation from Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho, who managed the 20-year-old at Inter.

Mourinho had said: “Santon is simply a phenomenon.

“At Inter we knew he could play against almost any team in Serie A.

“He is the type of player who could become the new Maldini or Zanetti over the next few years, I am sure of that.

“He needs a manager who can stand by him.”

United boss Alan Pardew was hoping to see the completion of both deals done while keeping an eye on other irons in the fire, after admitting that an injury to Mike Williamson and the departure of Joey Barton had forced a rethink in terms of cover.

Pardew will continue to push for further reinforcements in the closing stages of the window.

The move for Erik Pieters looks to have gone cold after the left-back was hooked into a private meeting with PSV Eindhoven’s technical director Marcel Brands, and told he would not be sold as the Dutch club failed to come to an agreement with United over his price tag. Sochaux had threatened to report United to FIFA last week over “unfair manoeuvring” in the transfer window regarding their bid for Maiga, but it is believed that this situation has calmed down somewhat and issues have been resolved.

Maiga still wants to make the move to St James’, but the striker would cost the Magpies around £7million.

Reports in France also linked Arsenal’s Marouane Chamakh with Newcastle along with Lille, Bordeaux and Paris St Germain.

PSG striker Mevlut Erding has also revealed he is staying in the French capital as the transfer window winds down.

Pardew has made his thoughts on boosting the squad crystal clear to his board, but knows that he faces four games out of five away from home and the squad’s frailties will be fully exposed if injuries take its toll between now and January. United supporters have grown understandably concerned about transfer activity this summer and are mystified as to just why Newcastle have left it so late once again during a window.

Silence from the board room this summer has also not helped ease fan anxiety.

Concerns about further outgoings lie in equal measure about worries that the squad lacks depth with Fabricio Coloccini and Cheick Tiote classed as prized assets.